We've seen lots of psalms which encourage us to not go along with the wicked, however tempting it us for us. This one reminds us of how good it is to be in God.
Psalm 36 begins very intriguingly: "I have a message from God". We want to hear what it is! It is this: God's perspective of why the wicked are the way they are.
They have no fear of God (v1). This is their root problem. Fear of God means following his righteous ways because you know there is judgment. Many people despise the idea that fear should play a part in our choosing to do good - it ought to naturally flow from the heart. But what flows naturally from our hearts is not goodness. And we all know that fear of a righteous authority is a good thing: be it the state, a teacher or a parent. The root problem with the wicked is that they just don't care, so they'll do what pleases themselves.
Then there's a problem with self-perception (v2). They can only see their goodness, they cannot see their wrongdoing. This is most people I know - no fear of God, no concept of their own wrongdoing, self-assured that they are basically good people.
But you'll see their true hearts in what they say (v3a): wicked words and everyday lies which everyone does right? And you'll see it in what they do (v3b): foolish life choices and a complete absence of any actual good deeds.
God, who knows their hearts, knows in the quiet of their thinking they are always plotting evil (v4): jealousy, greed, hatred, sexual immorality, vanity.
The question we need to ask ourselves is: are 'they' 'we'?
But God is so different and so will his people be. His love and faithfulness is higher than the skies (v5). The depth of his righteousness and justice is beyond understanding (v6). His people shelter in his wings like chicks under mother hen (v7), because they love his faithful love and righteousness.
But more than this, in him there is abundance and joy. Sheltering in his love and righteousness is like a the greatest party feast, like drinking from a freshwater river of delights, the fountain of life (v8-9).
It is so often tempting to be like the wicked. It looks like easy street. It appears so attractive. But sheltering in our loving and righteous God, fearing his ways and wanting to be like him, this is the true place of abundance, delight and life.
A Prayer: Father I praise you that you are a God of awesome faithful love and vast righteousness . I love following you and sheltering in your goodness. Give me joy in your presence, delight in your ways and the fulness of abundant life in you. Keep me from loving the ways of the wicked and protect me from their schemes. Amen.
Comments